Fergie named LMA Manager of the Year

Sir Alex Ferguson has been named the League Managers' Association (LMA) Manager of the Year for a record-breaking fourth time after guiding Manchester United to the 13th Premier League title of his reign.

Ferguson, 71, had scooped the prize on three previous occasions (1999, 2008 and 2001) and this year's award moved him ahead of his Old Trafford successor David Moyes, who has claimed it three times.

The outgoing United boss was presented with the award, voted for by his fellow managers, at the annual ceremony in London on Monday, 24 hours after the final game of his 26-year tenure with the Red Devils - a thrilling 5-5 draw with West Brom.

Ferguson guided United to their 20th league title in his last season as manager, as they overhauled rivals Manchester City to reclaim the crown.

The Scot joked he is glad the celebrations of his retirement are now over as he prepares for a backroom role at Old Trafford.

"It has been overwhelming. The club has been fantastic and congratulations to West Brom with the way they handled yesterday," Ferguson said. "In a way I am glad it is all over now - because it has been hard work!

"I think (West Brom manager) Steve Clarke should get an award because anyone who scores five against United deserves it."

Ferguson is confident he has left a strong legacy for United's incumbent manager David Moyes, with the club's emphasis on young players helping the Red Devils to the Under-21 Premier League title after beating Tottenham on Monday.

"It has always placed a great emphasis on youth long before I came," Ferguson added. "Sir Matt Busby started that and took Manchester United into Europe, the first
English club to do so.

"It's always been there and I have tried to maintain that though it is more
difficult in the present climate - you have to scout abroad now but you are
still looking for young people who can do well."

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay was named the Championship manager of the season
after steering his side to the title and into next season's Premier League.

He said: "I am just very proud of the whole club - a lot of people in the last
two years have put hard work into building this."

Yeovil's Gary Johnson was named the League One manager of the year and
Gillingham's Martin Allen won the League Two award.

England boss Roy Hodgson was elected into the LMA's 1,000 club for managers who
had been in charge of 1,000 games after the body agreed to take overseas and
international matches into account.

Former Southampton boss Lawrie McMenemy was also elected into the club.

Hodgson, who has coached in eight different countries, said the job of a
manager was becoming tougher.

He said: "You have to be very lucky to survive the ups and downs and that's
getting harder and harder. I have been lucky and done it in some quite easy places to be compared to
what Sir Alex Ferguson has done at Manchester United and Aberdeen, that's for
sure."